Ajay Kumar
In 1947, Pakistan was founded on the basis of hatred towards Hindus. Even after nearly 77 years, Pakistan continues to harbor the same sentiment. Every Prime Minister and Army Chief that Pakistan has had, have always spewed venom against India and sheltered terrorists. This trend continues even today. Carrying forward this tradition, Pakistan’s military regime is once again echoing the same old narrative.
At a recently held Overseas Pakistanis Conference in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir made provocative remarks regarding Kashmir, which not only harmed regional peace but also made it clear that Pakistan’s power structure still draws strength from politics of hatred and division. General Munir’s recent statement, in which he called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” once again proved that there has been no shift in Pakistan’s mindset. These same lines have been repeatedly spoken by Pakistan’s military regime for decades. Pakistani generals have always asserted that Kashmir is of utmost importance to Pakistan and it will never be allowed to separate from it. But has this ideology brought any benefit to Pakistan? The country’s economy is in shambles, it has gained the image of a terror sponsor, and it stands isolated on global platforms.
Pakistan’s current condition is no secret. Because of such actions, the country is becoming economically weaker. According to the IMF report, by early 2025, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves had dropped to a mere $3.1 billion, enough to cover only a few weeks’ worth of imports. The inflation rate has crossed 30 percent, unemployment is nearing nine percent, and the public is suffering under severe political and economic instability. In such a situation, provocative statements by Pakistan’s military regime show that it has no other option left except to divert its people’s attention by raking up old and communal issues.
The flames of separatism in Balochistan are rising, and the people there are openly rebelling against the Pakistani army and government. Baloch rebels have recently attacked several Pakistani military bases, further fueling internal instability. General Munir’s claim that Balochistan is Pakistan’s pride and no one can take it away clearly indicates his serious concerns about the situation in Balochistan. People within Pakistan are questioning how long they will be misled in the name of Kashmir when they don’t even have food to cook at home. This question is being raised deeply among the youth of Pakistan and on social media, where criticism of the army has become commonplace. Many people are now openly saying that it would have been better to merge with India again a clear sign that people in Pakistan are becoming more serious about their real problems.
In his speech, General Munir appealed to overseas Pakistanis to teach their children why Pakistan was created and that Hindus and Muslims can never be the same. This statement was aimed at portraying Pakistan’s culture and identity as superior to Hindus, even though such thinking is completely irrelevant in today’s globalized world. The Two-Nation Theory, on which Pakistan was built, had already collapsed in 1971 when Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan. This division proved that a nation built on the basis of religion cannot be sustainable, and Pakistan’s failure has become living proof of this flawed ideology.
Today, Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun communities are also fighting for their identity, and this is Pakistan’s biggest threat. General Munir fears that if he does not continue the agenda of hatred against Hindus, Pakistan’s new generation will start questioning him. That is why he is once again portraying the weak and minority Hindu community as the enemy, even though the condition of the remaining Hindus in Pakistan is dire. In 1947, the Hindu population in Pakistan was 23 percent, but today it has dwindled to just 3 percent. They either migrated, were killed, or were forced to convert. Still, why does General Munir fear them? Because he knows that if this atmosphere of hatred ends, the very foundation of Pakistan’s power structure will collapse.
Even in Pakistan’s famous TV series Zindagi Gulzar Hai, it was shown how Hindus are marginalized in the country. It is no secret that the condition of minorities in Pakistan is extremely poor. In such a scenario, one must ask when the minority community is already so oppressed, why is there a need to spread hatred against them? International journalist and New York Times writer Taha Siddiqui wrote on X that General Asim Munir wants to poison children’s minds to brainwash them. He said Munir is promoting the Two-Nation Theory, which had already failed in 1971. This statement shows that General Munir is deeply concerned about the internal instability and disintegration within Pakistan.
Pervez Musharraf, who launched the Kargil war and directly confronted India, also tried every possible way to seize Kashmir. He made terrorism a part of state policy and orchestrated several terrorist attacks in India. Now General Munir is speaking the same language. This raises the question does Pakistan want to once again walk down the same suicidal path? Pakistan may now be weak, but its army and intelligence agencies still try to destabilize India using terrorism as a weapon.
Although terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir have reduced somewhat recently, assuming the danger is over would be a mistake. India must continue to expose the reality of Pakistan on international platforms. Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts should be intensified to reintegrate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir back into India. India must show the world that it wants peace but also knows how to defend its borders.As for Pakistan, it has already seen the result of enmity with India over the last 77 years. It would be better if Pakistan stops fighting and competing with India and instead tries to match India’s development strides.
Author can be mailed at ajaimayanews@gmail.com